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A San Antonio police officer was injured while chasing a man accused of firing a dozen gunshots in an East Side neighborhood.
Police said a gang unit patrolling the area heard between 12 to 15 shots just before 10 p.m. in the 800 block of Iowa Street.
An officer saw the the suspect with the gun in a backyard and began to give chase.
The officer caught the suspect, but injured his knee after he jumped a fence, San Antonio police said.
The injured officer was taken to the hospital for treatment, but was expected to be OK.
Police said the suspect was taken into custody and charged with felony possession of a weapon and deadly conduct.
It was unknown why the suspect began to open fire in the area. No other injuries were reported.


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Members: 11
Latest Activity: Aug 27, 2013
The Epicurean Brain - Please Read Before Joining
Epicurus is quoted to have said: 'It is more important with whom we eat than what we eat.'
Without having scientific evidence to back this up, I am convinced that Epicureans follow this philosophy not by a mere conscious decision. Instead they are determined by a specific combination of innate hardwired traits in their brain. Adopting the philosophy is the consequence, it is the conscious acceptance of an innate identity.
These traits are:
1. Low subconscious instinctive forces and therefore only weak urges towards procreation, hierarchy forming, ingroup-outgroup distinction. As a consequence, the rational capacities are not hindered or deactivated by instincts.
2. The pleasure center in the brain has a high perceptivitiy and sensitivity to emotional and intellectual stimulation and a low perceptivity and sensitivity to physical stimulation.
As far as Epicureans feel instinctive urges, these trigger behavior to restore homeostasis rather than pleasure seeking behavior.
This kind of a brain enables an Epicurean to be an atheist, skeptics, egalitarian, childfree and to be non-promiscuous, attracted only to monogamous commitment with a companion.
People with such a brain are rare. But they exist and Epicurus himself is the evidence. Had he himself not had such a brain, I doubt that he had ever developed his philosophy. Had there not been likeminded people, nobody would have shared the community of Epicurus' garden.
Having a brain wired differently than the majority is a reason to feel intellectual lonelieness along with emotional loneliness. Having a brain wired to feel attracted to the same way of thinking as a great philosopher cannot be a reason to feel uncomfortable about oneself and it is certainly not a reason to attempt to become like the majority. Instead it is a reason to look for likeminded people.
Being an innate Epicuran myself, I invite all Epicureans to join this group.
More information:
Started by Hiram Mar 27, 2013. 0 Replies 0 Likes
Please visit the new webpage for the International Society of Friends of Epicurus at societyofepicurus.com!Continue
Started by Hiram. Last reply by Maruli Marulaki Jan 21, 2013. 2 Replies 0 Likes
Ancient sources cite the 10th day of the month of Gamelion as the day of Epicurus' birth. As such, he held a feast in his Garden, and later when his hero cult evolved he was celebrated on that…Continue
Started by Maruli Marulaki Jan 18, 2013. 0 Replies 0 Likes
I have been watching a video containing a male interpretation of Epicurus' philosophy. (Thanks, Hiram, for the link in the 'Garden Of Epicurus' group elsewhere.)In one part:…Continue
Started by Maruli Marulaki. Last reply by Maruli Marulaki Jan 8, 2013. 2 Replies 0 Likes
Comment by Dr. Allan H. Clark The problem I find with Epicureanism is that once you form an attachment to a lover, spouse, child, or friend, you can become anxious about their welfare. When they…Continue
Welcome Joan, it is nice, that you found your way to come here.
I have moved all the comments concerning attachment into a discussion thread: http://www.atheistnexus.org/group/epicurean/forum/topics/compiled-c...
Welcome, Allan.
welcome, Kalliope
Welcome, Richard.
Good post. I was an advocate of Epicurus since I learned about the Pax Romana in high school. As I remember, the three great emperors of this unique century of peace were Hadrian, Antonius Pious and lastly the great Marcus Aurelius—all epicureans. Sadly, Marcus had a son by a prostitute named Commodus and the Epicurean rule came down with a crash. This was the true beginning of the decline. Commodus made Caligula look like Jimmy Carter.
The famous poem by Lucretius De Rerum Natura is available as an audio book for free download from Librivox.
In English http://librivox.org/on-the-nature-of-things-by-titus-lucretius-carus/
and also in Latin http://librivox.org/de-rerum-natura-by-titus-lucretius-carus/
Welcome Steph and Hiram. I am pleasantly surprised to get some activity back to this silent group.
Welcome Harrison. I will answer your question sometime soon.
© 2014 Atheist Nexus. All rights reserved. Admin: Richard Haynes.

subset: commoncrawl


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Rhian Evans Allvin
Rhian Evans Allvin is Executive Director of the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). She guides NAEYC's strategic direction and oversees daily operations. With more than 70,000 members and 300 Affiliate components across the United States, NAEYC serves as the leading voice on behalf of young children and early childhood educators. Read more »
Barbara A. Willer, PhD
Barbara A. Willer is Deputy Executive Director of the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) and responsible for the Program Recognition and Support Division. This division of NAEYC administers systems that set and monitor standards of quality for programs in early childhood education—those serving young children as well as professional preparation programs in institutions of higher education. Read more »
Adele B. Robinson, JD
Adele B. Robinson is NAEYC's Deputy Executive Director, Policy & Public Affairs. She oversees Public Policy, which works to ensure that NAEYC positions are reflected and supported in federal, state, and local initiatives and to build public understanding and support of a high-quality, well-financed system of early childhood education for all children. Read more »


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LEGO® Club
Start Date: February 20, 2013 4:00 PM
End Date: February 20, 2013 5:00 PM
Location: Main - Secret Garden (Max 75 people)
Children in grades 1-5, will build and create using LEGO® bricks. No registration is needed.
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BOISE -- Over his time at Boise State University, Bronco nation has known Coach Petersen was one of the most sought after coaches in the country.
Skip Hall, former six-season head coach for Boise State and assistant coach at University of Washington (from 1975 - 1986), was consulted by both parties about the hiring decision.
Click the play icon to watch the full story and hear from Hall. To see it on the app, go to the video tab.


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The war to preserve the Union comes alive once again! Robert E. Lee's victories against superior forces won him enduring fame as a crafty and daring battlefield tactician. Loved by his own men and respected by all his Union foes, Lee's greatest victories were the Seven Days Battles, Second Bull Run, the Battle of Fredericksburg and the Battle of Chancellorsville.
But craftiness and daring could not outmaneuver the superior Union numbers and war material forever and the war ended in Lee's Surrender to General Ulysses S. Grant at Appomattox April 9, 1865. Just days later, this photo was taken at Lee's home in Virginia.
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The USB 2.0 7-port hub is designed to implement the Multi-TT(Transaction Translator) function mode. The Multi-TT mode is the main traffic control engine in an USB 2.0 hub to handle the unbalanced traffic speed between the upstream port and the downstream ports. This allows you to daisy chain up to 127 devices including digital cameras. Ethernet adapters , Modems , Printers , Mice , Keyboards, Scanners, and portable data storage devices.
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83-14421 - 512MB Raspberry Pi Model B Project Board
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H.Con.Res.59 - Expressing the sense of Congress that the Environmental Protection Agency should hold public listening sessions on regulations targeting carbon dioxide emissions from existing power plants in those States most directly impacted by the potential regulations.113th Congress (2013-2014)
Summary: H.Con.Res.59 — 113th Congress (2013-2014)
There is one summary for this bill. Bill summaries are authored by CRS.
Shown Here:
Introduced in House (10/08/2013)
Expresses the sense of Congress that: (1) the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) should hold public listening sessions on rulemaking targeting carbon dioxide emissions from existing power plants in each of the 15 states with the highest percentage of electricity generated by coal in 2012 (West Virginia, Kentucky, Wyoming, Indiana, Missouri, North Dakota, Utah, Nebraska, New Mexico, Ohio, Colorado, Kansas, Iowa, Montana, and Wisconsin); and (2) such sessions should be held at a time and place that would maximize the ability of individuals to participate.


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New Mexico Mercury
If the universe didn't have humor in it, if the comic and the unexpected weren't the children of consciousness, if the language of puns and jokes and the clarity of happiness weren't properties of atoms too, then one might actually have a reason to give up on space/time and the human species and settle into a stupor until the escape of death opened the way for some peace and quiet.
But a poet named Toadhouse, and a painter named Allan Graham, and my old friend of almost five decades Skip Graham – all of whom share the same DNA, and are identical, save for their avatars – turned 70 last week on the stage set of the David Richard Gallery in the Railyard Arts District of Santa Fe and that made me happy, and the work in that clean, handsome space took me serenely into itself which proved to be exactly where, at the moment, I wanted to be.
While description always refers only to itself, I'd have to describe Skip's work as having, for me, a long history of opening doors and climbing steps into consciousness without self-importance. It's hard for me to have much more to say than that because by breaking down the borders between lexical space and visual space – I'm beginning to sound like an art critic, and I'm surely not – crossing the boundaries of word things and image things, a freedom is let loose, at times even a giddiness. And of all the truths we experience, the truth of the unpremeditated smile is the most convincing and believable.
As Toadhouse has written:
And more to the point:
should only
So one might actually see for themselves in a painting the title of which is:
"is forming in a was universe."
Toadhouse paints this poem:
Next to it is a red painting which reads "now! the future at a reduced distance." It is arranged on the canvas in a way that causes the mind to jumble around in its own synaptic distances.
And another Toadhouse poem reads "Any Position Limits the View (We Are Only Here For A Spell). "
My two favorite works in the Birthday Exhibition are, first, a large painting in which Toadhouse, with black and white surfaces laid down as if they had been polished by a glacier, writes: MANKIND?
And then in an upstairs space one finds a graphite colored painting/drawing which in entitled "Chance Forming on the Edge of Need" in which a comet of chance is rushing at a continent of need.
Also in the David Richard Gallery is Gloria and Allan Graham's collaboration called Add Verse, in which 25 poets – including Bob Creeley, Jimmy Santiago Baca, Diane di Prima, Michael McClure, Anselm Hollo, Arthur Sze, and Anne Waldman– are photographed by Gloria Graham with spontaneity and candor, and the poets' hands are videoed in intimate motion by Allan Graham as they read their poems. It's one of those totally unexpected, off the wall, on the wall, out of the blue ideas that focuses a listener/viewer on the poet's work in a way more intense than any of them might have hoped for.
I feel way too close to much of this work to have anything more to say than Happy Birthday Skip, and thank you for finding the key to the little door that, once opened, once in a while, gives us all a sighting of unself-conscious joy.(more...)
Decipher with Difficulty: Toadhouse (aka. Allan Graham) at David Richard Gallery
Allan Graham's exhibit of recent work "Toadhouse aka. Allan Graham" at David Richard Gallery induces your mind to wander and your senses to inhale his multivalent sorceries. The first view of the show is from the outside, through the plate-glass gallery window. You notice a toilet plunger planted on a disk on the floor. Once you're inside, standing next to it, you read "ENTERTAINING A THOUGHT" brushed on the rubber bulb. Participle as threshold.
Graham orients the show to its site while aiming the work of words at you, the viewer. The exhibit's subtitle, "Any Position Limits the View (We Are Only Here for a Spell)" reinforces that the show is a kind of architecture. Read it up close, read it from across the street. The gallery densifies like a page through which the visitor strolls among Graham's carbon spells.
Graham's work states the epistemological power of art to turn words into objects. He takes a high-low romp through what those expressions might be, exactly. He materializes letters like "aliens" that you must imagine without having any idea of what they really are. Physicalized and random, the work's energy is atomizing.
"Unidentified Flying Self" is a six-foot-diameter graphite-blackened discus of canvas that the artist hung high beneath the gallery's skylight. Plunger handles spot the floor, punctuating the gallery like aids to navigation. Portraits of Lady Godiva and Anne Boleyn back up to a pair of custom tractor-trailer mud flaps bawdily announcing "CARNAL SPOKEN HERE." The phrase addresses the beer side of the tracks.
The art-historical stable of puns and aslant syntaxes is activated in real time, from Marcel Duchamp's Rotorelief to Robert Smithson's A Heap of Language, through Adrian Piper's "Dear Friend. I am black," to the HOLLYWOOD sign. Once an artist objectifies letters, as Graham does, their material qualities, metonymy and meanings fall subject to his thaumaturgy.
Continually in the show, things are not what they seem. Graham explores opposites. He turns words into objects by making the carbon material, object-like. But he also explores formats where the words are fine filagree like molecules in a gas. They coalesce into object-like groups.
"I AM BORROWING YOUR WATCH," spanning one wall of the gallery's central atrium, keystones the show. It shapes letters as near-semaphoric geometries in two ways — as abstractions of their forms, and as abstractions of the space around and inside them.
Literally, the phrase is almost absurd. One seldom borrows another's watch. It also points to the promise of the show's subtitle: the artist has your viewing attention for a while, for a spell. He's taking this interval to bewitch as he insists on your pausing to make the most of your time together. Prestidigitator, he picks your attention's pocket , the while showing how it is done. Alluding to legerdemain, though, isn't practicing it.
Up close, you can witness how densely the artist lays his graphite on the ground of the canvas. Its scumbles and scuffs blur the contrast between black letters and white ground. This can frustrate the conclusive impulse one seeks from reading. Occupying an adjacent trio of square canvases are disguised words that you must decode in order to come up with "KILL" "EYES" "MEAN": Mean Eyes Kill. The next painting reads "CON TEXT".
Of course, one reads the entire show as a context, taking cues from one work to understand another. But that painting also raises the case of text that cons. Ambiguouslanguage trips you up by non-sense or dissembles and demands your logos to finish it. Perhaps the picture paints the word the best in "Alien Hands (Enigma)," where the word "enigma," forming two filagreed hands, renders concrete poetry in the primordial soup. Graham's the space cowboy in an alphabet galaxy.
Art Matters Santa Fe with Kathrine Erickson and David Eichholtz interviewed by Kathryn Davis
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The in-gallery events of "Art Matters | Santa Fe", hosted by individual galleries and museums and sponsored by the Santa Fe Gallery Association, will feature the diversity of artwork in Santa Fe as well as critical discussions and lectures regarding the specific artists and art historical time periods presented by the host galleries. These events, intended to focus on the galleries, their artists and curatorial programs, will appeal to collectors and art enthusiasts as well as academics and historians and showcase the depth and expertise of Santa Fe gallery collections and owners respectively. The artwork ranges from contemporary abstraction and figuration, modern masters and French Impressionists, film, installations and interactive presentations to historic and twentieth-century Native American art, Japanese Samurai warrior armor and Japanese painting.
Casting a spell – Artist, poet Allan Graham uses words, wordplay as a visual language
Albuquerque Journal
Words, says artist Allan Graham, are the way the mind works.
Strange sightings: Works by Allan & Gloria Graham
UFOs. You've seen them on the internet, and you've seen them on TV. Perhaps you've even seen them in person or thought you did. Think about the way they move, flicking in and out of sight at dizzying speed and stopping to hover just long enough to for you to notice. Then, whoosh, they're gone again, the way a random thought or word is held pure and crystalline in the mind but vanishes — along, it seems, with your memory of it. Allan Graham, under the moniker Toadhouse, presents pieces from his UFO series at David Richard Gallery as part of the exhibition Any Position Limits the View (We Are Only Here for a Spell). But Toadhouse's paintings are not about visitors from outer space — except insofar as that's a metaphor for thoughts themselves.
At a distance, a painting from the series looks nearly monochromatic, and shapes emerge: clusters of marks that coalesce into disclike objects. The forms you see are composed of words. Some are sentences, and others are single words that rain down or encircle the more figurative imagery. As a title, From and Form in an If Shower — one of the paintings from the UFO series — sounds like the kind of tag that provokes a viewer to say "I just don't get it." But Toadhouse uses titles descriptively. The UFO shapes in the painting were made using the two words from and form. The marks falling all around them are repetitions of the word if.
"The only things I'm showing that have been shown before are the UFO paintings," said Graham, who began signing his pieces as Toadhouse in the late 1980s. "I started out as a painter. Then I did three-dimensional pieces, taking stretcher bars, manipulating them and stretching canvas over them. When I went back to the flat surface again, I was doing all this writing, just notes to myself, that I shared with [Vincent] Barrett Price, the poet. We go back a good 30 years. I started writing these notes to myself in a subterranean room I built with my son. We called it Toadhouse because we kept finding toads in it. That's where I started writing the notes, and I'd give them to Barrett." Graham and his son built the kivalike structure at Graham's former home in Albuquerque.
Price is one of 25 poets represented in a photographic and video project Graham collaborated on with his wife, Gloria Graham, called Add-Verse. David Richard shows Add-Verse, as well. "We did it together 10 years ago. Gloria took the photographs, which are all candid shots she did while I was talking to them, and I shot video. It's a historic piece because seven of the poets died since then. The oldest was 100 to begin with — that was Carl Rakosi. There are some that are local, like Arthur Sze and Mei-Mei Berssenbrugge, but the others, like Michael McClure, Diane di Prima, Robert Creeley — they're historic names." The Add-Verse photographs are portraits of the poets, while the video component of the project is a montage in a continuous loop. The poets recite examples of their work, and the camera focuses on their hands and the text they're reading.
"We have enough poet friends to know that I'm not a poet," Graham said. "They're dedicated in an entirely different way. But I always saw a twist in language where it would go different ways depending on how you received it."
The exhibition title refers to the multiple meanings of words but also to the ways in which we look at art. The view can be limited by one's physical position and by the subjective associations one makes with words. "I tagged on We Are Only Here for a Spell to the title. The word spell has three meanings. Time, language, and illusion."
David Richard also features Graham's pre-Toadhouse sculptures — the oldest, As Real as Thinking, goes back about 30 years. These sculptures are shaped canvases plastered with pages of text. Language and wordplay have dominated Graham's work since that time. "It's an interest in the way the mind sees things through words. I was strongly visual prior to that, so I just brought the visual and language things together."
Most of the work created since his show at SITE Santa Fe in 2000 has not been shown publicly and includes hard-edged minimalist paintings from a series mostly based on four-letter words, some of them swear words. These also appear at David Richard. The paintings read as abstractions, but their titles, such as Full and All, are, like the UFO titles, descriptive. The words can be detected in the paintings. Graham composed them as arrangements of geometric shapes, using just the negative spaces between the letters. He examines the relationship between language in its written form and art, erasing any perceived barrier between them. The medium he uses, common to artist and writer alike, is graphite. "Writing is a form of drawing. When I did the UFOs with all the little words, it kept taking off. But you have to build the painted surface of the canvas up to the point where it will take the writing with very little pressure, otherwise you'd be cracking the paint. It's got to move fluidly. I knifed on thin layers of oil paint. It's a long process to where it would close the weave off." Graham applies the graphite to the paint before the paint has fully cured, so, when completely dry, the graphite doesn't smudge.
More recent works such as Urinating Beneath a Star Swept Sky are intended to have a bit of humor. "Humor loosens the mind up to accept things," Graham said. "I did an interview with John Yau of The Brooklyn Rail and quoted G.K. Chesterton. It goes something like, 'Do you know why angels can fly? Because they take themselves lightly.' It's just fantastic, and I try to remind myself of that because the art world is way too serious. I grew up with a father who made really bad jokes at the dinner table. I realized much later that I inherited it. Now I realize that our son does that, too."
The UFOs are the few works in the show in which the arrangement of words have a visual appearance similar to the objects in the series title. "There's a tradition of what's called concrete poetry, where you do drawings with words to look like what's described in the poem, but that wasn't what UFOs was about. It was never diagrammatic." But imagery in the series does reflect the meaning of the words in an odd way. "I took the word kill, and when I wrote it using just the negative spaces to create the letters, one element was like this arrow pointing back. Automatically you make a reference in your mind, but it's kind of like watching a flame and listening to music, and you're convinced the flicker goes along with the music. It's the mind that makes the connections."
Toadhouse (a.k.a Allan Graham) interviewed by Kathryn Davis on Art Beat.
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Allan Graham has deconstructed the English language over the past thirty years of his career by literally envisaging words, phrases and concepts using the words themselves as the visual language. Canvas and oil paint, handmade paper, graphite, ink, toilet paper rolls and rubber plungers are his varied supports and media. His latest paintings are comprised of four letter words written with no spaces and the letters stacked in quadrants, two over two. Initially, the viewer sees a pattern in black and white, some purely geometric and others a bit more anthropomorphic depending upon the grouping of letters, but then the actual word emerges through the abstraction. Through his work the viewer realizes language is an abstraction, both in the way it is spoken and written. The meaning and power of language is not only in the content of the chosen word, but more in the context in which it is delivered and even then, subject to personal interpretation.
ALLAN GRAHAM (a.k.a. Toadhouse) – Press Release
ALLAN GRAHAM (a.k.a. TOADHOUSE)
Any Position Limits the View (We Are Only Here For A Spell)
September 12 – October 19, 2013
Opening Reception: Thursday, September 12, 5:00—7:00 PM
David Richard Gallery
Railyard Arts District
544 South Guadalupe Street, Santa Fe, NM 87501
p 505-983-9555 | f 505-983-1284
David Richard Gallery will present an exhibition surveying the range of text and language-based art by Allan Graham (a.k.a Toadhouse) in his first solo exhibition with the gallery. The exhibition, Any Position Limits the View (We Are Only Here For A Spell), will be presented September 12 – October 19, 2013 at the gallery located on 544 South Guadalupe Street, Santa Fe, New Mexico 87501, phone 505-983-9555 in the Santa Fe Railyard Arts District.
The presentation will feature many different ways in which Allan Graham has attempted over the past thirty years of his career to deconstruct the English language by literally envisaging words, phrases and concepts using the words themselves as the visual language. Canvas and oil paint, handmade paper, graphite, ink, toilet paper rolls and rubber plungers are his varied supports and media. Sometimes the words are presented in standard fonts, other times cursive text streams across the page to create abstract images that become visualizations of phrases such as "Chance Forming On the Edge Of Need" and "Why Forming In An Is Universe." His latest paintings are comprised of four letter words written with no spaces and the letters stacked in quadrants, two over two. Initially, the viewer sees a pattern in black and white, some purely geometric and others a bit more anthropomorphic depending upon the grouping of letters, but then the actual word emerges through the abstraction. Through his work the viewer realizes language is an abstraction, both in the way it is spoken and written. The meaning and power of language is not only in the content of the chosen word, but more in the context in which it is delivered and even then, subject to personal interpretation.
Also featured will be Add-Verse, a two part collaborative project between Gloria Graham, Allan Graham and twenty-five poets produced during 2003 to 2005. The video portion is comprised of a montage of 3 to 5 minute segments of each poet reading their own poetry in their natural setting with just their hands and the text from which they are reading captured on video. It is a seamless loop with no interruption or introduction between the poets to produce one continuous poem. Also presented are spontaneous photographs of each poet taken during their individual readings that measure 24 x 24 inches square in black and white. The featured poets who collaborated on the project include: Jimmy Santiago Baca, Mei mei Berssenbrugge, Maxine Chernoff, Wanda Coleman, Clark Coolidge, Robert Creeley, Diane Di Prima, Vincent Ferrini, Gene Frumkin, Barbara Guest, Lyn Hejinian, Jane Hirshfield, Anselm Hollo, Paul Hoover, Joanne Kyger, Nathaniel Mackey, Jackson Mac Low, Michael McClure, Harryette Mullen, V. B. Price, Carl Rakosi, Tom Raworth, Arthur Sze, Anne Waldman and John Yau.
The exhibition will be accompanied by a catalogue with an essay by the poet, art critic and historian John Yau.
Allan Graham's studio practice includes painting, drawing and sculpture in a variety of media and his artwork has been exhibited and collected internationally. He has had numerous solo exhibitions and artwork work included in group exhibitions in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Pittsburgh, Buffalo, Tucson, Dallas, Albuquerque, Santa Fe, Rome and Varese, Italy, Lugano, Switzerland and Dusseldorf, Germany among other cities. His art is included in the permanent collections of the Albright-Knox Art Gallery (Buffalo, NY), Villa Menafoglio Litta Panza (Varese, IT), The Panza Collection, Museo Cantonale d' Arte (Lugano, Switzerland), High Museum of Art (Atlanta, GA), Museum of Fine Arts (Santa Fe, NM), University Of New Mexico Art Museum (Albuquerque), Albuquerque Museum (NM), Denver Art Museum (CO), Sheldon Memorial Art Gallery at U. Of Nebraska (Lincoln, NE), Roswell Museum and Art Center (NM), Tang Teaching Museum and Art Gallery at Skidmore College (Saratoga Springs, NY), and Blanton Museum of Art at University of Texas (Austin, TX). Allan Graham was born in San Francisco, CA. He studied at the University of New Mexico, San Francisco Art Institute and San Jose State University and was awarded the National Endowment for the Arts in 1985 and a Pollock Krasner grant in 2012. He currently lives and works in New Mexico.
Gloria Graham's art making practice explores interactions at the molecular, physical and metaphysical levels with a focus on ephemera and the ethereal captured through her camera lens and drawings. She has had many solo exhibitions and her artwork included in numerous group exhibitions in New York, Los Angeles, Santa Fe, Albuquerque, Houston, Marfa, Buffalo, Denver, Verona, IT, Lugano, Switzerland and Japan. Her artwork is included in the permanent collections of the Whitney Museum of American Art (NY), The Lannan Foundation, The Broida Foundation, Albright Knox Art Gallery (Buffalo, NY), Museum of Fine Arts (Houston, TX), The Panza Collection, Museo Cantonale d' Arte (Lugano, Switzerland), Harwood Museum of Art (Taos, NM), Denver Art Museum (CO), Roswell Museum and Art Center (NM), North Dakota Museum of Art (Grand Forks, ND), Albuquerque Museum (NM) and Museum of Fine Arts (Santa Fe, NM). Graham studied at U. California, Berkeley and Baylor University with graduate studies at U. Wisconsin and U. New Mexico. She lives and works in New Mexico.
David Richard Gallery specializes in post-war abstract art including Abstract Expressionism, Color Field, geometric and hard-edge painting, Op Art, Pop Art, Minimalism, Feminism and conceptualism in a variety of media. Featuring both historic and contemporary artwork, the gallery represents many established artists who were part of important art historical movements and tendencies that occurred during the 1950s through the 1980s on both the east and west coasts. The gallery also represents artist estates, emerging artists and offers secondary market works.
For additional information please contact: David Eichholtz
TED LARSEN at David Richard Gallery – Review
THE Magazine
God only knows—and maybe ARTnews, where you'd find a question like this as the lead-in for a not-so-nuanced look at Some Assembly Required, Ted Larsen's recent exhibition of
At first glance the work is not imposing, and it's certainly not intrusive. A typical piece is less than two feet in height, a linear wall-mounted assemblage of welded lengths of square-sided metal bars that run at right angles along x-y-z axes within some imaginary three-dimensional grid. For some pieces, the metal armature serves as support scaffold for a single slab or for stacks of contiguous laminate plywood
On the formal level, at least, you could make a persuasive case for the Constructivist aesthetic. Stripped of its utopian content, the Russian early modern theory espoused three principles in its art making: tektonika, whereby the constituent industrial materials invest the work with meaning; konstruktsiya, or "construction," basically the assembling of the sculpture from various components (at the time, a revolutionary approach vis-àvis traditional sculpture's carving and modeling), and faktura, or the choice and handling of the materials. It is unlikely that Larsen explicitly subscribes to these principles but, whatever the artist's approach, his sculpture does reflect their virtue of ensuring both structural integrity in the work and visual discourse with the viewer. Larsen's pervasive use of polychrome salvage steel
For several pieces in the show (Linear Curve, Past Prediction, Random Pattern, Real Fantasy, and Whole Half) Larsen uses the welded steel bars simply as support for a single wall tableau, in the sense here of a projecting abstract panel with strongly narrative overtones. The panel of Past Prediction floats out from the wall like a mounted flat tv screen, a plywood high-relief divided horizontally into two wraparound zones of patina green and white plating and, attached to its surface, a vertical wooden frame that optically bends forward as it extends to the upper, green zone. In the similar tableau of Linear Curve, this play of
This allusive quality is especially evident in those sculptures in which the support, or armature, function of the welded steel bars is elevated to visually embody the proffered conceit: (Loose Knot, Nearly Complete, One Choice, Personal Space, Soaring Down). It is equally apparent in the chiastic play between the virtually identical polychrome compositions of Orderly Confusion and Random Pattern, either one of whose
But apart from the visual wit and wordplay—or perhaps better, at the source of it—is Larsen's formidable command of his medium. The wit and whimsy that pervade these sculptures are entirely a function of Larsen's approach to facture—shapes and colors as visual grammar—and his underlying sense of design's narrative force—as visual syntax. This openness to form and materials as visual language yields highly personal yet engaging work (whereas the Constructivist submission to an overriding utopian agenda often led to art as propaganda). His Never Again—a seemingly effortless amalgam of thin burgundy, ochre, and white plated rectangles stacked contiguously like accordions along a horizontal axis—is as enigmatic, random, and purposeful as a poem by William Carlos Williams: "so much depends/upon//a red wheel/ barrow//glazed with rain/water//beside the white/chickens."
—Richard Tobin
Judy Chicago greets Queen Sonja of Norway at her exhibition at Oslo Fine Art Society
Judy Chicago: Deflowered
May 25 – June 30, 2013
Judy Chicago's Dinner Party
Two members of Pussy Riot, a Russian feminist punk-rock collective based in Moscow, were at the Brooklyn Museum to view Judy Chicago's Dinner Party
David Richard Gallery, LLC | 544 South Guadalupe Street, Santa Fe, NM 87501 | p (855) 983-9555 | f (505) 983-1284
David Richard Contemporary, LLC | 130 Lincoln Avenue, Suite D, Santa Fe, NM 87501 | p (505) 982-0318 | f (505) 982-0351
10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Tuesday - Saturday or by appointment


text:
Will the swine industry be antibiotic-free by 2020? Maybe. Maybe not. According to Terry Coffey, Murphy-Brown LLC., we first must understand science and then balance that with consumer demand. Coffey said that ninety-eight percent of the time antibiotic growth promotants are used, it is to combat PRRS and the swine influenza virus. AGPs are only used about two percent of the time for improved weight gain and feed efficiencies.
Forty pigs or 2 tons of meat per sow by 2020 - is that realistic and if so, what will it do to the reproductive performance of our sows?
The fertility session at GLIMPSE 2020, the 29th Alltech Annual International Symposium, is addressing difficult questions with the top reproduction experts from all parts of the world. From technical to practical applications, this year's session offers a variety of ideas and objectives from across the globe, all focusing on one thing: promoting reproductive efficiency in pigs.
Happy National Pig Day!
Celebrate this year by saving money. Here are some quick tips on how you can get ready for spring and keep money in your pocket.
In June 2012, the Government of South Korea announced a total ban on inclusion of non-therapeutic antibiotics in feed for livestock. The action by the Ministry of Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MFAFF) in S. Korea corresponds to the EU ban on antibiotic growth promoters issued in January 2006. The EU directive followed similar restrictions imposed by Nordic countries between 1986 and 1998 and also by Switzerland in 1999.
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IREDELL COUNTY, N.C. -- An Iredell County teacher who was facing a murder charge is free on bond.
Investigators say Dawn Kavanaugh stabbed Ronald Ketchum last month. Kavanaugh says it was self defense.
She taught sixth grade at Lakeshore Middle School and is a former "Teacher of the Year.
Last week, a judge set bond at $200,000
Kavanaugh bonded out of jail on Thursday.


text:
There is zero chance that the Formerly Mainstream Media will ever ask serious questions of their Lord and Savior and there is zero chance that the new media will be allowed to get anywhere near TheWon.
Too little too late, but it´s still a good sign.
Apparently it has occurred to Leno that in addition to the pay cut he took from the network, now Mohammed and him minions are going to hit him in the pocketbook even more!Enjoy.
"his minions"
no fear, Jay. Ain´t gonna happen. Sure hope you´ve managed to ´´offshore´´ your money...
It´s very dangerous to America if they don´t.
Will the American People ever witness a "Book ´em Danno" moment from the halls of the Obama White House? Stay tuned. Don´t touch that dial!
Obama´s propagandists are protected and paid very well to follow just one order....stick to the script we gave you.
Of course the audience sat there in stunned silence.A few minutes later Newt was on as a guest, and Leno asked a bunch of left-leaning (leading) questions, and the audience applauded wildly.
This is too little and too late and it´s just one out of many of th media who help elect him and his fellow socialists.
Leno and Letterman have spent more time with zippy than the press have. Perhaps he should have asked a few serious questions himself.
#9, you are SOOO right. It´s the audience, stupid, as snakehead used to say.
And where the H--- was Jay for the past four years, making cracks about Republicans and nary a word about Obama? Could it be HIS potential taxes put HIM in jeopardy? No respect for this man......but at least he is saying SOMETHING: none of the others, comedians and/or straight news are saying a word against Obama, and when you look at the tragedy in N.J. and Staten Island with NO help from FEMA, Bush would have been bar-b-qued by now, but literally nothing is said. And the Press wonders why it is held in such low esteem.
Bah humbug. Leno had chances to ask real questions, and sucked up instead. As #2 said, too little, too late at this point. He can joke about the lazy loser for the next four years, but we´re still stuck with him and his criminal enterprise run by ValJar and Soros.


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AT&T (frm. SBC) Yahoo DSL - Horrible Service, nowhere near Time Warner Cable
Posted by Suchkoder on 05/23/2006
HOUSTON, TEXAS -- I moved into a new apartment and had to change from Time Warner Cable High Speed Cable Internet (RoadRunner) to the AT&T (former SBC) "High Speed" Yahoo! DSL Internet.
This review is by no means an advertisement for TWC - just an attempt to compare and let you know about frustration with ATT/SBC.
Had I known what kind of aggravation signing up for AT&T(SBC) DSL would bring I would have never moved into this apartment in the first place.
High Speed Internet is a crucial requirement for me - I am an IT professional and work from home most of the time.
AT&T DSL (former SBC) provides highly unsatisfactory service! Everybody I spoke to at AT&T were making statements obviously not knowing what they were talking about. Like early contract termination/disconnection fee for example... it is still a mystery to me. Contract says $200. When I was signing up I was told by the representative it was "only" $99. Another representative said there was no termination fee. Who to believe? They say whatever is their latest policy - takes precedence. So what is the point in signing the contract than - if they can change it anytime they want?
BTW, you will get charged early termination fee even if you move during your contract to an area where there is no SBC/AT&T service provided. Keep that in mind. With TWC - no early termination fees and no contracts.
I usually spend hours on the phone trying to resolve simple problems, being footballed around from one representative to another. Today I spoke with 8 people from AT&T, having spend 2.5 hours on the phone trying to resolve a simple billing problem. I haven't placed a service call with TWC in years.
Also about 50% of the time you would get a non-native English speaker, sometimes very difficult to understand.
I signed up on 05.03.2006 for the AT&T DSL Elite Package - $29.99 and was promised speeds from 3 to 6 Mbps. That required a phone line. (Phone activation is separate from DSL activation and takes about a week each) I haven't had a phone land line in years. I used to keep my cell phone as the only line for voice communications and TWC Roadrunner for the Internet. That was all I needed. I was quoted $35 phone installation fee, instead I was charded $48. But that was just that, - peanuts for starters... I also had to purchase DSL modem for $50 (TWC provided cable modems for free and replaced them couple of times with newer models), that actually had to be shipped to me (another $13). DSL modem it can be rebated if you send the shipping label back to them and be with them for at least 4(?) months out of your contract, and then it takes another couple of months to get the rebate.
Taxes are very high both on the phone and DSL, on $36 of service I pay $20 additionally in taxes! With TWC it was about $1.5 on $44 service.
Instead of promised 3-6 Mbps I am getting constantly 2-2.4 Mbps. That is with the direct Ethernet cable connection from your NIC to the DSL modem. If you use home wireless network, like most of us, it will be even slower.
Also they insist on disabling any ati-virus and firewall protection during the test. Well, hos realistic this test is then? If you run Windows OS- running firewall and some sort of AV protection is a must!
I opened a technical support ticket and conducted several DLS speed tests provided by SBC/AT&T tech support that confirmed that the speed is not approaching the promised minimum of 3 Mbps.
Technical support advised me that these speeds cannot be provided in my area (by what methods they determined this is unknown, actually that tech support person did not do anything at all, he was just talking), and that I need to downgrade the service to the "Pro" (1.5 - 3 Mbps).
So I called back to let ATT know that they charge me for the falsely advertised speeds that they cannot deliver, and was told that they will "downgrade the speed" but I still will be charged till 05.30.2006 as if I were getting the Elite speeds for the whole month of May.
Moreover I was told that I need to continue to pay the full amount on my bills till I see the change, which, as I was told can take 2 to 3 billing cycles.
The last representative I spoke to today(the 8th person) told me that he is doing me a "great favor" by letting me switch to Pro (even though it is totally SBC/AT&T fault - not being able to deliver the promised speeds that I was charged for and were the only reason I signed up for the service), and also giving me the special rate of $19.99 (that is actually quoted on the web site - there is nothing special about it), because I "do not qualify" for the "special" $19.99 rate for whatever reason.
With TWC Roadrunner I usually saw 300-350 KBytes/s download speeds, that is about 2.7 Mbps, but then again, they were never making any outrageous claims in the first place.
To the current AT$T(SBC) DSL customers - run the speed test. It can be found here: http://support.sbcglobal.net/dsl/speedtest/
Run it and see what your real connection speed is! It is possible you have been paying for years for the falsely advertised speeds that AT&T just cannot deliver but does charge for them.
To those considering AT&T - think again.
All of the representatives that I spoke too never resolved my problems but never failed to try to sell me some additional services. They say they do not work for commission, but based on my experiences with them I no longer believe a single word coming out of them.
I am writing to the Better Business Bureau about this as well as Public Utility Commission of Texas.
BTW, I am not advertising TWC here. Their services are also far from perfect and also expensive. But everything is known in comparison. ATT/SBC DSL service and support is a nightmare!
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Posted by Anonymous on 2006-05-24:
I am surprised that you (as an IT professional) are surpised at DSL service. DSL has always required a phone line, after all the L in DSL stands for LINE. It has never approached cable as far as speed or reliability. And as for the customer service.... the are the PHONE company! Nuff said.
Posted by Jenku on 2006-10-08:
I couldn't agree with you more. Every single one of your comment is RIGHT. ATT pretty much has ruined SBC.
I had been with SBC for more than 12 years and I never EVER had a problem. SBC customer service was prompt, professional and very friendly. After AT&T toke over, I have nothing but nightmares and RAGES.
As you said, "AT&T DSL (former SBC) provides highly unsatisfactory service! Everybody I spoke to at AT&T were making statements obviously not knowing what they were talking about."
DAMN RIGHT! After being put on hold for 30 minutes, I spoke with someone who didn't know what the hell is going on. EVERYTIME I called, I am being given information that were different that what were previously given.
I'm moving to Verizon as soon as my contract expired. And I dont mind paying little bit more for better service and a peaceful mind.
Posted by Gi L on 2008-07-28:
In terms of costumer service: YES, absolute NIGHTMARE
They don't know what they're talking about. Each representative said something different. So we asked to speak to their supervisor... they REFUSED to do so
Costumer service is supposed to answer questions and provide solutions. Instead, they provided NO answers, MORE questions, and MORE confusion.
In regards to the advertised speed: Yes, the max speed is advertised but speed varies with location, which is stated in the ad as well
Posted by Gonendunit on 2008-09-03:
I found just the opposite to be true. I NOW have AT&T DSL Pro and compared to the absolutely HORRIBLE customer service at Time Warner and their constant outages and interruptions in service I couldn't rate AT&T higher. Maybe it's the part of the country you're in. I'm in Texas and down here, Time Warner EVERYTHING is horrible. Unfortunately, I'm stuck with Time Warner Cable... ONLY until AT&T gets to my area with UVerse.
Posted by PAPPY2001 on 2009-08-19:
Before using At&t you should see all the problems reported to them. They are horrible, expensive. You have been warned. Good luck if you decide to use them now.
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False promotion
Posted by Inca on 09/01/2007
DAVIE, FLORIDA -- AT&T offer me by phone a "combo":DSL, Phone service and the same package I had on Direct TV for $ 130. The operator name is Richard and this happened on 08/23 and 24-07. They connect DSL and the phone but Direct TV told me that my charges with that Company will be the same that I have already. So now I have to pay for the DSL and phone and the same old charges for Direct TV.
AT&T only said "we are sorry for the inconvenience".Can you believe that?
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Posted by ThinLazyAmerican on 2007-09-01:
AT&T has nothing to do with Direct TV.
Different companies, different strokes.
Your mistake was accepting a deal over the phone.
How informed or prepared to make a decision involving your finances were you during that phone call?
You made an emotional decision and that's the purpose of a sales pitch over the phone.
Consumers make snap decisions based on their emotions over the phone without knowing all of the facts.
Turn off the t.v, get off the computer, put the phone down and learn to think first before you act.
Posted by tnchuck100 on 2007-09-01:
I agree with Thin. NEVER buy anything on a phone call you did not make. Check my3cents before forking over any money to any company. Read the Terms & Conditions. Remember:
EDUCATION is what you get when you read the fine print. EXPERIENCE is what you get when you don't.
Posted by Anonymous on 2007-09-01:
Agree with both users.
Posted by Inca on 2007-09-01:
Both of you are right. I was a fool accepting that deal by phone but there are laws in Florida again that kine of tricks, so I send a complain to costumer protection and cancel the deal with AT&T. Thanks for your comments.
Posted by ThinLazyAmerican on 2007-09-01:
Inca, from what you told us, I fail to see any tricks.
AT&T offered you a service, you accepted.
AT&T has nothing to do with Direct TV.
I am willing to bet you were confused because you did not know what was what and out of confusion you think you were tricked when you were not.
Make sure you pay your bills while you attempt to cancel the contract because if you don't, you will ruin your credit rating should your bills go to a collection agency!
Posted by Anonymous on 2007-09-01:
It was a sales tactic that is not uncommon at all and it is a "trick" and more like fraud!
Inca, good review and thanks for the information. I am also glad you got out of the deal with AT&T.
Posted by ThinLazyAmerican on 2007-09-01:
Lid, she never said got out of the deal.
There was no trickery involved.
Simple confusion by an ill-informed consumer making an emotional decision over the phone involving money.
People who use the word "Trick" are uneducated, ill-informed, perhaps confused, snap decision makers.
The word "trick" is not an all-purpose or universal word to describe everything that doesn't go the way a person would expect it to happen.
If I explained everything to you in detail and you zoned me out after a few minutes of lengthy detail, but you agreeded to my offer at the end of my sales pitch would you still consider it a trick because you failed to listen?
Posted by Anonymous on 2007-09-01:
Thin, "I send a complain to costumer protection and cancel the deal with AT&T" Did I read this wrong?
I believe the confusion is caused by the sales person trying to make a sale. Been there, done that one.
While I agree with you that it was most likely was confusion, I can't agree just because someone uses a word that doesn't sound right to us that they are, "uneducated, ill-informed, perhaps confused, snap decision makers".
The way I read what he/she writes says she must be either of Jamaican or Cuban decent or just doesn't have a mastery of the English language.
A "sales pitch" over the phone is usually read or rehearsed by a person who is in-between jobs, to young to get a real job or someone who can't seem to do anything else, what ever.
When they go into their spiel or speech they are not listening to anything other then what they are saying, agreed?
If you want them to stop most of the time you must raise your voice or just hang up, agreed?
After you have listened to them you may have questions but the question you have may NOT be on the list of answers they have, agreed.?
The sales person becomes confused or just doesn't listen, this is passed on to the person on the other end and what happens? Most likely the sales person does a "song and dance" around the question and then tries to do his/her job and "Close the deal."
This is what I think happened, What do you think?
Posted by ThinLazyAmerican on 2007-09-01:
Yes, you did misread it. She never said she did get the contract cancelled. She said she sent a letter to cancel it.
You jumped the gun and assumed she had the contract cancelled when she did nothing but send a letter or she at least plans to.
I sold plenty over the phone and it's usually the customer who doesn't listen or doesn't know one product from the other.
Just because the consumer doesn't have all of the information he or she needs doesn't mean the salesperson is tricking the consumer.
Just as you believe and make assumptions, the salesperson can say the same thing and believe the consumer is smart enough to know or not Direct TV has nothing to do with AT&T.
Would you expect the salesperson on the phone to ask you if you knew the difference between a phone/internet company and a Satellite/internet company?
If you want to make a sale you can't go around asking people if they are dumb enough or not to know the difference between one product and the other.
If the consumer is listening the he/she can use their judgement and make decisions and ask questions rather than listen to what makes them feel good.
Can I force you to listen to something you don't want to hear? No, I need to make my pitch sound good enough for you to listen, but it's up to you to ask questions beyond the sales pitch, only then will you hear what you don't want to hear but you are listening because you are asking questions and using your logic not just your emotions to make decisions.
Posted by Anonymous on 2007-09-01:
OK, I really don't think I was making any assumptions just trying to be logical but if you insist and I'm sure there is a point here somewhere but I don't get it.
I guess you are saying you are a phone sales person? Didn't mean to step on your toes or anything.
What I do is make sure I am on the "do not call list" and I only tell them that once.
Posted by ThinLazyAmerican on 2007-09-01:
No, I'm not a phone salesperson. I'm sure I can sell you the Brooklyn Bridge though.
Posted by Anonymous on 2007-09-01:
Way to make friends Lidman.
Posted by *Brenda* on 2007-09-01:
I agree with Lidman. If the sales representative shouldn't have told her she could get a promotion if she couldn't. They did trick her into signing up for it by providing false information.
Posted by Anonymous on 2007-09-01:
I don't agree.
Posted by ThinLazyAmerican on 2007-09-01:
Brenda, the sales rep told her the charges would be the same because AT&T and Direct TV are two different companies.
What false information?!!
The sales rep told the truth!!!
Posted by Anonymous on 2007-09-01:
Thank you Brenda.
Pirate, STFU it's Saturday for God sakes man!
Thin, I already own the Brooklyn Bridge, but thanks for asking and I wasn't being mean, why are you?
Posted by Anonymous on 2007-09-01:
FYI Thin, you say "Direct TV has nothing to do with AT&T"
They may not be the same company yet but they do work together.
Direct TV and AT&T Expand Contract
Direct TV also has access to an AT&T wide-area networking solution that enables the company to effectively communicate with customers, employees, and business partners. A key component in that communication channel is the secure AT&T customer portal, AT&T Business Directâ, which provides operational efficiencies, including around-the-clock, online access to real-time reports on network performance and direct connection to trouble management systems. Use of the portal, allows Direct TV and its business partners to monitor the data network, troubleshoot potential problems and resolve issues quickly and easily.
Posted by Anonymous on 2007-09-01:
Lid, why do you always have to start trouble with new members?
Posted by Inca on 2007-09-01:
Let me said to those who beleive that there are no tricks. AT&T have a promotion on TV and they offered that combo:Phone line, Internet with DSL, AND DIRECT TV PROGRAMATION for $ 90. Because I allready had a full programation with Direct TV I ask if AT&T can give me the combo with the same programation and the operator said YES but not for $ 90 but for $ 130. That conversation is taped. Because of that I said that is a trick.
Posted by Anonymous on 2007-09-01:
Good for you Inca!
Pirate, I am starting trouble with no one but you as always are and I bet you already have this person on your phony trust list. Now do what I said and STFU!
Posted by Anonymous on 2007-09-01:
You are so stupid!!!
ThinLazyAmerican is trusted by the following users...
Posted by jktshff1 on 2007-09-01:
he** I agree with everybody
Posted by Anonymous on 2007-09-01:
There can be only one!
Posted by *Brenda* on 2007-09-02:
DirecTV told her the charges would be the same, probably after she called to complain about the bill being wrong. AT&T misrepresented the deal to her.
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Seeking a copy of your itemized phone calls from AT&T? Dream on....
Posted by Jvincent44 on 03/31/2008
ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN -- I tried to get the month of January 2008's itemized local phone calls from my land line/internet carrier, AT&T. I called and was told that "Michigan State Law" prohibited them from releasing that information WITHOUT a court ordered subpoena. I thought "This is odd", as I am able to readily access my "Sprint" cell phone calls records for up to several months worth... I asked to speak to a manager and was told the same thing. Today, March 30th, I called the Michigan Attorney General's office and they, in turn, passed me on to the State of Michigan Consumer's Commission. I spoke with an agent there, and explained my dilemma. She called AT&T's rep and we had a three way phone conversation. What a surprise that was. She, the agent, agreed that there was no State Law regarding that practice THAT IS WAS AT&T's practice.
They do this because they have so many customers and local calls are not kept track of like long distance calls are (we have unlimited long distance and those calls DO appear on each monthly bill). I asked "Why not charge a fee instead of making people have to go through the court system in order to get their own phone records?" Her reply, we just don't do it and have no department to handle this... So, I called the AT&T subpoena number 1-800-291-4952 and spoke with a really rude woman there. I explained to her what had transpired and asked "How does one get a subpoena to get one's itemized phone calls?" She blew up at me and stated the ONLY reason AT&T does asks for a subpoena is because of State Law. I corrected her and I was basically "Hung up" on.
I again, Called the Michigan Consumer agent, told her what transpired. She said, she'd pursue this issue, but if I was brave enough, to re-call that number and SPECIFICALLY ASK for the Michigan Law. I did and was passed on to a supervisor who not only agreed with me, but stated it all came down to dollars and sense and that according to AT&T my phone calls are "Not mine", but AT&T's property..She explained the reason "Sprint" has ready available history of phone records is that they charge by the minute...
So, consumers BEWARE..Be VERY aware. If you think your phone records are accessible, I'd double check your carrier's policy CAREFULLY before decide to stay with them.... You may need them, as I did...
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Posted by Anonymous on 2008-03-31:
This post interests me. I have ATT and I can just go online to pull up my call history. Are you able to manage your account online?
Posted by jvincent44 on 2008-03-31:
To the person who commented that they are able to "Pull up their call history online." The only thing available, here, in Michigan, is Long Distance History- period.. Local calls aren't available to be seen. Thanks any way:)
Posted by Anonymous on 2008-03-31:
I think Ghost of DocJ may be referring to cell phone calls. You can pull up all calls, both local and long distance on cell accounts. If it is a land line, I am pretty sure the only available numbers available for review are long distance. I think they should make this info availabe at least online. That way you can print it yourself and they dont have to worry about spending the money on paper and ink.
Posted by traceylynnprincess on 2008-03-31:
I think he was talking about VOIP or digital service? I know that with my cdv I can access local and long distance records within 24 hrs. Another reason why "Ma Bell" phone service is outdated..........
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Unauthorized Billing
Posted by U45654 on 08/19/2008
CUMMING, GEORGIA -- I noticed on July's bill a charge of $ 14.95 from an entity called Enhanced Billing Services. I called AT&T and the customer service rep. told me that AT&T will place any and all charges from any company because they are not "in the billing dispute department." When I asked since when AT&T is in the billing services for unknown companies, she got belligerent and coped the repeating words' attitude. She kept repeating like a machine: "AT&T will not help you. Call the company who charged you."
I insisted that I never authorized this charge and AT&T should not have placed any charges on its monthly phone bill to begin with, let alone an unauthorized charge from an unknown entity. I added that I did not hire AT&T's services for billing but for phone services alone. Needless to say she did not listen or try to help in any way. Her arrogance and uncooperative attitude were really frustrating.
Since then I learned that EBS or ESB as they are also known, is located in San Antonio, Texas and there are numerous complaints against them about "cramming."
I wrote to the FCC but they replied that it is not their domain and gave me the (Federal Trade Commission) FTC's number. I called the FTC and filed a complaint against both the EBS AND AT&T for unauthorized billing. I wrote a letter to AT&T as well demanding a resolution and review of their conduct both in customer [non] service and in billing anything at all on my phone bill beside phone services provided.
I hope AT&T will get the message. I will be surprised since my wife and I dropped AT&T years ago because of their arrogance and lack of consideration or service to customers. That's the result of the near monopoly AT&T enjoys on local phone services at present. Unfortunately, BellSouth was "swallowed" by AT&T and we are stuck with them again.
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Posted by madconsumer on 2008-08-19:
"I wrote a letter to AT&T as well demanding .... "
they are not in the 3rd party resolution department. they only pass n bills they are billed to yout number. someone has to be accountable, so it really is the agency that sent the bill to at&t. this is the same as 900 sex calls.
at&t is no longer a monopoly, there are other services you can use.
Posted by Anonymous on 2008-08-20:
If AT&T is putting themselves in the business of billing for other companies, (and don't think they aren't getting paid from that company), then they should be forced to accomodate billing disputes. They can't have it both ways. If they aren't willing to resolve anything, they should just reverse the charge in question and let the third party company come after you directly if the bill is legitimate.
Posted by u45654 on 2008-09-01:
Thank you for elightening me, madconsumer.I was aware that AT&T is only passing bills. My point was that they should Not do that. AT&T is not a billing co. and in any case that is not why I hired them. In fact, I don't want any entity placing charges on my bills Except charges that apply to my contract with them. Period. I do appreciate your interest, though.
Posted by Anonymous on 2008-09-01:
I agree with Ken. Also, if these types of services being disputed are in fact like the 900 sex lines, then we should be able to place a block on them so we are not able to request these services, or be billed for them.
Posted by Nohandle on 2008-09-01:
I experienced the same thing on my Centurytel bill. I don't have the bill in front of me but the first month I let it go after listening to a recording until I grew weary of it. This past month I was determined to find out what those approx. $10.00 extra charges were under long distance. Yes, they all looked official and who can read his landline bill anymore? The lady I spoke with this month deleted the charges put a lock on any outside provider coming in with charges. It's simply a company putting charges on your bill and trusting you don't question it. Sorry you couldn't find anyone at AT&T to check it out.
Posted by Kimwsmith on 2008-10-04:
On my AT&T phone bill. About a year ago I received notice that my statement from AT&T would begin arriving in a "new format". This notice was presented as though AT&T had adopted an easier to understand billing format. However: AT&T was NOT the one changing the format. AT&T had conspired with "Enhanced Services Billing Inc." (AKA: BSG LLC) http://about.bsgclearing.com/aboutbsg/ to add a FRAUDULENT charge of $15.95 A MONTH for my "New Enhanced Bill" to already over rated services from AT&T.
My wife had clicked on a coupon and innocently gave out our phone number to these criminals. When I called "Enhanced Services Billing Inc." at 1-888-293-3724 they said they will credit me for the $130.00+ they and AT&T had conspired to FRAUDULENTLY obtain from me for IMAGINARY "services".
I called AT&T at 1-888-757-6500 and informed them that I am aware of their fraudulent conspiracy with "Enhanced Services Billing Inc." to demand they stop billing me for something I never received or wanted.
The rep I talked to asked if I or my wife had "read the fine print" on the coupon? That: shows me that AT&T is well aware of the perpetrated fraud and is ALSO A PARTICIPATING PARTY TO FRAUD.
This illegal charge was never verified with any confirmation whatsoever. They just started the billing process in the hope that they would get away with it.
If I don't get my money back in a reasonable time: I will set up a computer with a modem to speed dial their toll free number at "Enhanced Services Billing Inc." with thousands of "hang-up" calls to cause damage and disruption for those thieves.
"Enhanced Services Billing Inc." is committing wire fraud and AT&T IS A WILLING PARTICIPANT.
I am canceling all of my AT&T "services". Getting a cable internet connection and "Vonage" as my telephone service. And: that choice is much cheaper, and of higher quality than what AT&T provides.
This raw deal has actually helped me find a much better deal elsewhere.
Ditch AT&T! you never know when they will screw you too! THEY WILL
As with any criminal element the name of the perpetrator is always an alias that leads to the actual thieves who create the illusion of a Legitimate "business" as BSG has done with this scam. Email addys to these punks follow. If you've been ripped off like me and others. Give these foreign thieves a piece of your mind.
you can also clog up their fax machines at this number: 210.949.7101
Posted by Kimwsmith on 2008-10-04:
A week or so ago I had a dispute about fraudulent charges on one of my credit cards. I too called an automated phone system that provided no option to talk with a real live person. I tried every menu item and all sub-menus. Then: it dawned on me that those "toll-free" calls were being paid for by someone; as in the company you are calling? Anyway: by this time I was speed dialing as I cleared every menu item in total frustration. While I was watching the news: I decided to make it as costly as possible to them for ripping me off.
I began making hang-up calls to that number. On the 300th call; a real live person picked up and answered! There is someone monitoring those automated systems because of nuts like me. It works. Give it a try when you have a little idle time on your hands. By speed dialing and immediately closing the connection; it only takes about an hour to make 300+ calls. Surely that has to get expensive for the punks who are stealing your money.
I now have an old computer set up and programmed to make repeated hang-up calls to those who deserve it. It might not mean much; but: it is a way of getting even by running their phone bill up!
I noticed a "star" rating system below this box. AT&T does not deserve ANY stars. How do you take stars away?
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AT&T's call centers are HORRIBLE!
Posted by Kdmask20 on 09/10/2004
Not only do I have to wade through a huge automated message board to finally get a person, but when I do, it's to someone in India in a call center that can't actually do anything directly about my complaint. (I've actually called the customer service number 5times in the last 3 days and everytime it's been answered in India).
I've had AT&T for 12 years as our international plan. We moved, they didnt' move our plan and our billing came to triple the normal amount it has in the past. It's obvious that the plan was never transferred. After going through a list of the billing itself "Did you use a phone card"?? (NO) "it must be a porn number" (LOL, it was my MOTHER'S NUMBER)--I was told I'd have to talk to a supervisor. Well, there are NO supervisors available whenever you call AT&T anymore. You are told they will call YOU within "24 hours". This was at least 3 days and 4 calls ago.
The outstanding credit they owe us is close to $250 and I'm sure if I can get someone that knows what they are doing on the phone, I can get this resolved.
In the meantime, I've swtiched to my local company for EVERYTHING. I know I can walk into their building if need be and talk to someone that can fix my problem.
The call centers AT&T are using are lousy; the connections are lousy, the people difficult to understand on the other end of the phone and the lack of supervisors to actually DO something is just plain bad business.
They've lost a customer they had for a long time.
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Posted by LATAS on 2004-10-01:
Wait, you got a human???
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Still Screwing Soldiers For A Profit
Posted by Gree0232 on 01/13/2009
I am writing about a problem that has not only effected myself, but literally dozens of soldiers in my small area. I would imagine that the problem is happening on a larger scale throughout Iraq and Afghanistan.
The issue is AT&T phone cards that are sold to soldiers under exclusive contracts to the US military. Unfortunately, some of these cards do not work. It would perhaps be reasonable to assume that there would be problems with cards would happen. However, there appears to be a broad sense of neglect and a deliberate attempt to ignore problems arising from this monopoly.
I recently purchased a phone card here in Iraq and, upon attempting to use it, discovered that the PIN number on the back was faulty. (755-413-19XX/ last two numbers missing in records). When I attempted to call customer service, I was repeatedly prompted for the PIN. As the PIN was not valid, AT&T's customer service system simply hung up on me. Repeated attempts to access the system were similarly unsuccessful.
More troubling was the small print on the back, in which AT&T charges minutes from your card in order to access customer service. In other words, it was clear that AT&T would only help soldiers for a fee.
Assuming it was a one off, I traded the card for another card from a different location (816-769-1435) and experienced the exact same problem. Attempting write or email AT&T were ignored. I wrote the Better Business Bureau and the repeated response was to simply state that what was happening could not be happening as it was against their policy. At no point did they indicate that they would take actions to address or correct this issue.
With just a little effort, I have found literally dozens of soldiers who have experienced the exact same problem with AT&T. Although many soldiers have access to FOB and the problem is annoying, it can be particularly devastating for soldiers that are deployed further forward and do not have routine access to AAFES. I am sure that there are soldiers who have to make repeated trips across combat zones to garner access to a phone card that actually works. In the mean time, the soldier is cut off from his family.
As AT&T has an exclusive contract, there are no alternatives available to soldiers. As is typical of unmonitored monopolies, AT&T has continues to collect fees for a service that is rapidly degenerating.
I would appreciate any assistance in bringing AT&T around to honor its commitment to provide phone service to US soldiers.
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Posted by Anonymous on 2009-01-13:
Doesn't the military have an advocate's office who could assist you and the others with correcting this?
Thank you for your service, I hope they do right by you.
Posted by Anonymous on 2009-01-13:
In my day (and I ain't that old), military personnel in combat areas could address a letter and write 'free' where the stamp should go. What the heck is wrong with providing today's military with 100% free (to the military person) telephone contact with their families? I'd rather pay that bill than the one I'm paying to bail out Wall Street fat cats who pi$$ it away like two drunken boots on their first liberty to Tijauana.
Posted by tnchuck100 on 2009-01-13:
Amen, Doc!
Thanks, gree!
Posted by Disaster Worker on 2009-01-13:
We thank you for your service, too.
Posted by madconsumer on 2009-01-13:
doesn't the army offer free telephones calls back home?
Posted by yoke on 2009-01-13:
Thank you for your service.
Posted by DebtorBasher on 2009-01-13:
Doc, were those the same letters that looked like swiss cheese by the time they reached home? LOL!!!
Posted by jktshff1 on 2009-01-13:
Thanks for your service, been there before cell phones.I am a longtime att customer and have had no problems.
BUT....I am contacting them regarding this with my own questions and am will also e-mail my congressman & senators this complaint to ask WTH???
Posted by Anonymous on 2009-01-13:
Yeah, Basher. They got carried around in a dirty BDU pocket until they made their way back to a company area. Then, they sat in a big tub until some mook from the APO collected the bunch. Heaven only knows what happened after that. But they were free. The closest thing to a phone call was from a MARS station where military and ham operators worked big magic and you might hear a loved one's voice. Hammies are good people.
Posted by jktshff1 on 2009-01-13:
Yea Ghost, if ya had a little bribe or new someone! lol!
Posted by Principissa on 2009-01-13:
This actually makes me very angry.
My brother in law is a marine, and I know first hand that these cards are literally the only way he can call his wife and kids when he actually can call them. They should have given this brave person a new card or a new pin. This makes me very very angry. Very angry. You can die for your country but you can't call home and tell your family you love them. Very very angry. Death is free but you have to pay to be taken care of when the company is obviously in the wrong.
Posted by Anonymous on 2009-01-13:
Yep Princi...it is outrageous. A lot of folks assume they get their calls free. They should. Again, next to the money Congress pi$$es away, the cost of the calls is miniscule.
jkt..Didn't you notice that nobody (hardly) messed with the mail or delayed it. A LOT of things happened, but it took a real piece of feces to mess with another leg's homebound mail.
Posted by jktshff1 on 2009-01-13:
yep. mail is sacred.
This really pi!!!!!me off. They should not have to pay. One thing I don't mind my tax dollars going to.
Posted by Principissa on 2009-01-13:
jk when hubby was in the navy he had to spend 50.00 for a 250 minute calling card. Half the time they wouldn't work, they wouldn't load right, he'd get to talk for only half the time he paid for. I'm pretty miffed to see that nothing's changed.
Now my BIL told me that they have e-mail set up, but you can only get to it when you are near one of the tents they have set up AND half the time it doesn't work. Same way when hubby was on the boat, they had e-mail, but half the time it didn't work. Snail mail even 4 years ago, was the safest way to go. It was the only way you were guaranteed to talk to your loved one.
Ugh this makes me so freakin mad I could make a dragons flame look like a match light.
Posted by Anonymous on 2009-01-13:
I agree, the calls should always be free. It's the least the gov can do for these men and women.
As a side note, I get calling cards from Costco for a reasonable price. They can be recharged also. For domestic calls, you get about 600 minutes for $20. I use it Internationally and get about 250 minutes for about $20. I have bought these as gifts (stocking stuffers)for my kids, so they can reach us wherever we are. They would be a welcome gift if you have a serviceman or woman overseas. BTW, these cards are through MCI.
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Poor Service
Posted by Symsonia on 12/12/2008
I had AT&T internet service at my old address and the speed was fair. I moved to a new address and it took them 2 weeks just to get my service running and the speed is poor. I called to up grade service it has been a week and no upgrade.
I have been on the phone at least one time a day and some times 3 or 4 times a day with no luck.
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Unscrupulous Billing Practices
Posted by Parrhesia on 12/06/2008
GEORGETOWN, KENTUCKY -- My husband and I recently moved to a small town in Kentucky, and upon doing research, discovered that AT&T (Bellsouth) was the only company that could offer us DSL and digital home phone. We telecommute two-three days/week, so it is essential that we have this service. But it has been a nightmare to deal with this company. NOT ONE of our problems has been responded to satisfactorily. Here is the list:
1) Failure to notify us that our long distance was not switched over to Sprint as we ordered, so that when we made long-distance calls from our home phone, we were being charged the highest rate per minute for these calls. When we disputed the charges, AT&T refused to remove them.
2) When we set up online billing, one of our payments didn't go through. AT&T sent us an email confirming that the bill had been paid, and when we went to the online site, our account said we owed $0. Thirty days later, our phone service was turned off due to non-payment, WITHOUT WARNING. When we called to find out what happened, the billing department told us the problem was ours (though it was a glitch in their server that prevented the upload while simultaneously reporting the payment was made). We told them we would not pay a $35 fee for reinstatement, but,
3) This month we've received our bill, and not only have we been charged the $35 reinstatement, but also they have charged us for each individual service we have ordered rather than bundling the services, as we ordered. Therefore, what should be a $62 + taxes bill for DSL, phone, and long distance is now $180 +. We tried to call as soon as we got the bill, but the line was so jammed that we were not even sent through. When we call on Monday, this will be at the FOURTH time we have called AT&T in five months.
In all this time, AT&T has not accepted responsibility for any of its errors. We have paid for EACH ONE, despite our dispute of the charges (including all those long distance charges from the failure to switch us to Sprint long distance). Since we bought AT&T's router for the DSL/wireless service for our home, changing to another option (like broadband for the laptops) is a considerable loss of money.
We STRONGLY DISCOURAGE anyone who has a choice of DSL/home phone service NOT to use AT&T. They are TERRIBLE--a business that would fail if not for their monopoly in some markets.
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Posted by cavilier cheats customers on 2009-02-06:
AT&T in the south is not The polite helpful Company it is in thE Northern states ,, (michigan,Indiana) ...In memphis tn. for exampale the customer service people were rude mean and short tempered.
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Tech Support Security Policy Is Absurd
Posted by Geebo2b on 11/14/2008
CALIFORNIA -- My internet connection went down and I couldn't connect to internet.
I called AT&T tech support.
Everything seemed to go fine until they wanted me to supply them with the 'original' passcode on the account.
I started my internet service with SBCglobal and AT&T took them over a few years back.
So, after almost 10 years of service I couldn't remember the 'original' passcode
In this time I have upgraded by 2 computers.
The tech said to 'look on an AT&T bill.
Problem: I have been 'paperless' for over a year now and have no AT&T bills.
They said, 'Too bad, they can't help me without that info' After going round and round about that I finally hung up.
I found an older 2wire I had and hooked that up and got an internet connection.
Problem: during the tech session with AT&T they reset my internet connection so that my connection would default to the AT&T diagnostic page and I would have to completely negotiate the diagnostics before it would re-connect.
Problem: got to a page that demanded that same info 'for security reasons' that I went round and round with the tech person.
Called again> explained that I had no bills, that I have been paperless for a year or more..and that I couldn't check my online account to see what that info was because I COULDN'T get online.
Again, they told me that I was basically screwed, they couldn't help until I gave them the info. They gave me an alternative: FAX a copy of my driver's license and a current bill to them the 'verify' that I am who I say I am.
WTF???? Stop my life?? and FAX them ?? I don't have a fax machine..drive to some store somewhere?? and FAX them ..
Again, I said, never mind, it is easier to cancel my service with AT&T then to put up with this B***S***.
" I asked to be transferred to
termination of service"
They hung up on me.
I called AT&T and got to the disconnect service.
When I explained to the person what just happened and why I was disconnecting service, she was appalled.
SHe had all my info there, all they need to do was to contact her office and she could give them my info.
She convinced me to stay. She opened a threeway between a tech person, herself and me. I got the info to them and they cleared things up on their end and saw my 'modem' as being online even though I couldn't still get to my home page.
We hung up, There was still some problem on my side of things and it was up to me to figure it out, Fortunately, I remembered the URL of the diagnostic page AT&T told me to type in, so I got as far as the diagnostic page.
Safari has diagnostic button for troubleshooting connectivity issues.
It still said that there was a problem with my computer talking to the modem.
I had already replaced the 2wire, and even though all lights were green, I tried a new Ethernet cable.
That seemed to be the solution..I accessed the connection reset page, typed in all the security info I got from that wonderful woman in the service disconnect office and am back online.
took about 6 hours.
AT&T Tech support and policies..I give a minus 10..total BS and stupid!
Non-tech support for AT&T I give a 10+ Smarter and more logical than the stupid tech support.
Also< I ended up with 1/2 off the next 6months of DSL service AND a free 2wire modem.
HEY, AT&T..listen up!! With all of your Technology to communicate, how about communicating between your depts???
All the info I needed was right there!!
Thanks for nothing AT&T tech support,
Bless you AT&T Discontinue service personnel.
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Posted by geebo2b on 2008-11-28:
Well, the GAS company has a similar 'sucK-urity' set up that is just as stupid as AT&T, fortunately they had an alternate way of doing things I got around it...I was just trying to pay my bill online..that is..I am TRYING TO PAY THEM!! and they make it next to impossible..STUPID!
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Customer Service Rep Lied About Everything
Posted by CurlyTop on 10/24/2008
DALLAS, TEXAS -- In mid August I signed up with AT&T DSL by telephone. I spoke with a Customer Service Rep (ie; salesman) who said DSL cost $35 and when I protested that I had friends paying $25, he lied and said "That's what it costs now". This is incorrect. If I could have gone online I would have seen there are four tiers starting at $19 for Basic emailing speeds then, $20, $30 and up to $35 for Pro online streaming game & video playing speeds.
He said that I would have to have a phone line as well. I have found out since that this isn't true. He also neglected to inform me the line was a measured line which means I could only make 25 calls on it a month for free and then would have to pay by the minute.
He asked if I wanted long distance and I said I didn't unless it didn't have a monthly charge. He said I wouldn't be charged unless I used it. This was also a lie.
He said I would be eligible for a $200 rebate. This was a lie. I would be entitled to a $50 rebate for the modem which I did receive without any problems. However, I discovered from the next representative that was trying to straighten out this mess, I could only receive an additional $100 for switching to AT&T internet. When I checked with the rebate department, they had no record of it. I had to call a forth time and speak to another representative and told him the situation and he allowed the credit. I have received this $100 credit finally.
The last thing was the most maddening. This lying representative said I had to give a credit card to secure the account. Now I had never heard of this before and felt very uncomfortable with it. I thought of hanging up (trust your instincts folks) because it "felt" so wrong. I told him I have perfect credit and have never had to even pay a deposit for telephone service. I had had a AT&T phone account in the recent past which I had cancelled. They should have known I was dependable but he insisted that "was the way they did it now". This was his biggest lie.
He had signed me up as a high risk account without even running my credit information. I told him I wanted to be billed monthly and he said the credit card was just to establish the account. This was all a lie. The credit arm of AT&T called me because he had written down the wrong account. That was when I discovered he had signed me up for an automatic monthly withdrawal from my credit card account.
To unravel this I have had to make several calls to AT&T customer support. We had to effectively shutdown the previous account and they credited me the long distance charge except for $.80 for the service and $3.00 of taxes and surcharges.
I left messages on the "supervisory" line twice in order to make an official complaint against this employee who lied to me over and over again. No one has returned my call. I will write the headquarters in San Antonio and the FCC to complain about these business practices and this particular representative who should be fired.
My advice to others.: Keep calling and keep complaining until you get what was promised you. If you must sign up for AT&T for any of their products, signup online. Perhaps you will receive an accurate representation of the services and charges you can expect. Print out a copy of all their promotions and keep a well defined paper trail. Overall, I would recommend avoid doing business with AT&T. Why rely on a company that lies to its customers if there are other choices?
Verizon Vios is coming to my area. I had Verizon telephone where I lived before and found it to be both a straight forward and reliable company. Friends have Vios for DSL and rave about its speed for DSL and clarity for cable. Something to keep in mind for the future.
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Posted by Anonymous on 2008-10-24:
All of these so called 'service' companies have multiple complaints against their customer service. You'll no doubt run into problems with Verizon at some point as well. Your best bet is to do exactly what you posted and keep track of everything and if there is an issue, keep calling until someone listens. Thanks for posting, good information!
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